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MMA, UFC and WWE news and informationTue, 31 Mar 2015 17:37:54 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.3Official Trailer: The History of Submission Fightinghttp://prommanow.com/2014/10/21/official-trailer-the-history-of-submission-fighting/
http://prommanow.com/2014/10/21/official-trailer-the-history-of-submission-fighting/#commentsTue, 21 Oct 2014 14:29:46 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=134815http://youtu.be/3-RrzFQCnzw
We told you about the upcoming documentary, "The History of Submission Fighting" due out in Fall 2015. Now we've got the trailer and I think you will be pleased with what you see. "To make another man submit to your will, it truly is the king's sport," says Bruce Buffer in this trailer for the upcoming film that documents submission fighting from the early Olympics in ancient Greece to modern day ADCC.
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[ads2]]]>http://prommanow.com/2014/10/21/official-trailer-the-history-of-submission-fighting/feed/1UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste says Ronda Rousey not a good role model for womenhttp://prommanow.com/2014/02/24/ufc-ring-girl-arianny-celeste-says-ronda-rousey-not-a-good-role-model-for-women/
http://prommanow.com/2014/02/24/ufc-ring-girl-arianny-celeste-says-ronda-rousey-not-a-good-role-model-for-women/#commentsMon, 24 Feb 2014 21:54:05 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=125509Ronda Rousey may not give a damn about her bad reputation but longtime UFC Octagon girl Arianny Celeste doesn’t feel the UFC women’s bantamweight champion and Olympic medalist is a good role model for women.
Talking with MMA Junkie Radio this past week ahead of UFC 170, Celeste was asked if she was a fan of Rousey and likes the way she carries herself. Celeste responded:

“I’ve personally been talked about by her and I don’t even know her. I’ve met her twice, but she’s said a couple things, like in her Maxim interview I guess, a couple people pointed out to me, but I didn’t really acknowledge it. But I don’t really like the way she carries herself. I don’t think she’s a good role model for women. I think that women should empower each other and, you know, give each other a little pat on the back, you know. She’s paving the way for women’s MMA and I’ve made being a UFC Octagon girl into a career, so she should definitely recognize that and be nice.”

So what did Ronda say exactly in that 2012 Maxim interview? Rousey was ranked number 29 for the Maxim Hot 100 (sexiest women in the world) — Arianny was voted number 18 — and Rousey was asked if there were any women ranked above her on the list she felt didn’t deserve it.
Rousey answered, “It would have been really funny if I’d beaten [UFC Octagon Girl] Arianny Celeste, because that would be like a triathlete coming along and beating the runners in a marathon. Like, ‘Ha-ha, it’s your job to show your titties—I do that better than you!’ Maybe next year. She’s only getting older, and I’m reaching my prime.”
For a self-proclaimed “girly girl” Celeste doesn’t appear to be scared of Rousey. Wonder if UFC officials will have any problem with the veteran ring girl publicly criticizing their biggest superstar? What do you think, is Rousey a good role model for women — what about Celeste?
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[ads2]]]>http://prommanow.com/2014/02/24/ufc-ring-girl-arianny-celeste-says-ronda-rousey-not-a-good-role-model-for-women/feed/9Ronda Rousey: ‘I’m the most dangerous unarmed woman on the planet’http://prommanow.com/2014/02/19/ronda-rousey-im-the-most-dangerous-unarmed-woman-on-the-planet/
http://prommanow.com/2014/02/19/ronda-rousey-im-the-most-dangerous-unarmed-woman-on-the-planet/#commentsWed, 19 Feb 2014 21:33:09 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=125240Asked why she will win Saturday's UFC 170 main event against Sara McMann, UFC women's bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey tells ESPN, "Because I'm the most dangerous unarmed woman on the planet, that's why."
It's Olympic judo medalist vs. Olympic wrestling medalist and Ronda comments on their clash of styles. "It's yet to be seen how her style of wrestling will match-up against my style of judo in an MMA setting," she says. "That's why this fight is so exciting because there are so many unknowns."
Rousey also discusses how she got the nickname "Rowdy" and why she likes playing the heel role. She also explains how she feels about the quick turnaround time between her last fight and this one and how she thinks it will affect her performance come fight night.
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[ads2]]]>http://prommanow.com/2014/02/19/ronda-rousey-im-the-most-dangerous-unarmed-woman-on-the-planet/feed/2UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann extended video previewhttp://prommanow.com/2014/02/18/ufc-170-rousey-vs-mcmann-video/
http://prommanow.com/2014/02/18/ufc-170-rousey-vs-mcmann-video/#commentsTue, 18 Feb 2014 21:41:36 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=125203It's Olympic judo bronze medalist vs. Olympic wrestling silver medalist as UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey takes on Sara McMann in the UFC 170 main event Saturday night in Las Vegas. Also, No. 4 ranked heavyweight Daniel Cormier makes his light heavyweight debut against short-notice replacement Patrick Cummins. Cormier was originally supposed to fight Rashad Evans but a last minute injury forced "Suga" to withdraw, and instead of scrapping the fight altogether, the UFC found a relatively unknown opponent Cormier has a history with.
http://youtu.be/MMxUBsa4_uk
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[ads2]]]>http://prommanow.com/2014/02/18/ufc-170-rousey-vs-mcmann-video/feed/0Ronda Rousey vs. Sara McMann UFC 170 video previewhttp://prommanow.com/2014/02/17/ronda-rousey-vs-sara-mcmann-ufc-170-video/
http://prommanow.com/2014/02/17/ronda-rousey-vs-sara-mcmann-ufc-170-video/#commentsMon, 17 Feb 2014 23:07:19 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=125174It's Olympic medalist vs. Olympic medalist this weekend at UFC 170 as UFC women's bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey puts her title on the line against undefeated Sara McMann in the main event.
Rousey (8-0) is also undefeated in her pro MMA career having submitted all eight of her opponents via armbar, seven in the first round. Rousey last fought in December, defeating Ultimate Fighter opposing coach Miesha Tate for a second time.
McMann (7-0) has finished three of her fights via submission, one via TKO and three via decision. McMann is coming off a first round TKO win over Sheila Gaff last April. Can McMann's wrestling and grappling stop the takedowns of Rousey and prevent the inevitable armbar that she has defeated all her previous opponents with? If so, then who has the better stand-up game? It's an interesting match-up that will be settled this Saturday. Take a look at this video preview...
http://youtu.be/b6m9-r4SI4o
Who is your pick to win between Rousey and McMann and how do you see them winning?
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[ads2]]]>http://prommanow.com/2014/02/17/ronda-rousey-vs-sara-mcmann-ufc-170-video/feed/0Between Rounds: Olympic goalshttp://prommanow.com/2014/02/17/between-rounds-olympic-goals/
http://prommanow.com/2014/02/17/between-rounds-olympic-goals/#commentsMon, 17 Feb 2014 17:25:44 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=125154[caption id="attachment_120725" align="alignright" width="300"] Cutman Maldonado prepping Luke Sanders[/caption]I am very grateful to have been recently associated with multiple organizations trying to create criteria and standardization for a future goal of having MMA as an Olympic sport. It is obviously an exciting opportunity for me and of course for the future fighters that can participate. I thought it was essential that I be a part of such endeavors, mainly because my experience and education perfectly aligns as a match for the needs of the organizations and participants. More than ever, I do not want something so important to be left in the hands of someone less capable.
The first major event is next month in Vegas where UMMAF will host a national tournament that will create winners in divisions that will represent the US at an international tournament in July also in Vegas. Another organization has created a city-based team approach that allows a competitive league in a final tournament format to decide a team champion. In both situations, representatives have been established in roughly eight locations and hopes are that the end goal of an Olympic sport is established.
The obvious challenge is these grassroots efforts is funding, where commitments from people like myself include volunteering to support such events. The potential is huge and creating a high standard of performance is of great interest to me, thus getting a leadership role at this point is key for the integrity of the processes in the future. This is not the time to have well-meaning untrained go-getters trying their luck to be a part of things. This includes fighters, officials, and of course cutmen.
I'll certainly keep you updated on things but for now, I strive to be able to say "Go for the Gold America!"
In his column “Between Rounds” MMA cutman David Maldonado shares with readers his experiences and thoughts from inside the world of MMA. Readers are encouraged to respond, interact and ask questions about the life and work of the MMA cutman. “Between Rounds” is part of ProMMAnow.com‘s ongoing series of exclusive content written by individuals involved in the mixed martial arts industry.]]>http://prommanow.com/2014/02/17/between-rounds-olympic-goals/feed/0Monday Morning Quarterbacking With Dr. Rhadi Ferguson – January 20thhttp://prommanow.com/2014/01/20/monday-morning-quarterbacking-with-dr-rhadi-ferguson-january-20th/
http://prommanow.com/2014/01/20/monday-morning-quarterbacking-with-dr-rhadi-ferguson-january-20th/#commentsMon, 20 Jan 2014 20:21:18 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=123810[caption id="attachment_42839" align="alignright" width="292"] Jessica Aguilar[/caption]
Jack Bratcher: So what’s been happening Doc? Did you watch any football this weekend or check out any of the fights?
Dr. Rhadi Ferguson: Jack, this weekend was a busy one for me brother. After teaching class on Thursday night at my school, Tampa Florida Judo, I hopped on the road and headed down to Fort Lauderdale.
This weekend I attended a seminar held by the International Judo Federation that addressed the new rules and changes in the sport of judo and the Olympic Qualification process. I attended due to my position as a Technical Advisor with the Bahamas Judo Federation. It was informative, very long and a tiring trip. The commute was hurtful. It’s five hours each way.
Jack Bratcher: Well that segue ways me into my next question Doc. With the introduction of Ronda Rousey into Mixed Martial Arts and with the Alida Gray challenging Jessica Aguilar this past weekend in the World Series of Fighting – both of which are former Judo players – do you feel that Judo is a viable option for Mixed Martial Artists?
Dr. Rhadi Ferguson: (Dr. Ferguson starting laughing) Of course I do. Just as I feel that 800 meter training is great for fighters as well as playing chess. All of these things are good for fighters. I’m sure you are talking about foundationally. Well, in my opinion, I believe so.
Jack Bratcher: It seems like wrestling is generally perceived as the best fit for the sport as a foundation.
Dr. Rhadi Ferguson: Yes it does seem that way but it’s a false read that people are getting. What you see in MMA is called a convenient sample. You are looking at a sample of population of people which has a huge North American/United States bias and slant on it. There are more practitioners of martial arts in the world than there are wrestling practitioners. And if you don’t think so, just look at the adult population. There are more adults practicing martial arts than are wrestling. Let’s just be real. I’d love to sit down and run the numbers for you but it would be a waste of time. Just like when I try to tell people that there are more people worldwide that practice Judo than Brazilian Jiujitsu. Or when people come up to me and tell me that MMA is taking over boxing (Dr. Ferguson starts laughing again). Look. Martial Arts does not have a culture of fighting attached to it. The people in the arts are not encouraged to fight. The people in the arts are taught self-defense. There are many sporting federations that discourage the entry of their practitioners into MMA. Wrestling is a sport. It is an art, without a doubt. But it does not fall under the martial arts. It has deviated far from that like boxing. Both are combat sports and serious ones at that. But they have a culture of fighting and confrontation in order to settle an unknown. And that unknown is, who is the best. The martial arts culture is not about that. Now we have a sporting aspect of our arts that is seen and showcased in the Olympic Sports and in some of the non-Olympic sports like Karate and BJJ, but as a whole the goal of a martial arts is self-improvement. Self-improvement is a continuous process, therefore when an athlete reaches another level in a martial art, he or she never thinks about, “What’s next?” What’s next is always self improvement, enlightenment, learning and teaching. When one finishes wrestling, one is looking for the next battle. Many wrestlers leave the landscape or sport of wrestling looking for the next conquest. They miss the battle, the fight, the conflict. They are made differently and the sport encourages a different aspect of life. The golden thread in martial arts, from youth and entry, is to never use your knowledge to fight. The sport of MMA is in diametrical opposition to the tenets of martial arts. Trust me when I tell you that, no matter how popular you think MMA is, it is not taught as a viable option in most Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Jiujitsu or Aikido dojos as an option. It may be used as a sales tool to get kids and practitioners in the door to practice but it is not the goal. The pathway is not, black belt and then MMA. Not at all. You pretty much get forced out of wrestling at a certain point. You wrestle until high school or college and then you are done. The good ones keep going on to the Olympic hopeful path and the others, well…. they stop wrestling. Some go into BJJ, some into Judo and some into MMA. So when you say that the best MMA fighters come from wrestling what you are saying is not true. When you say that wrestling is the best foundation for MMA, well that cannot be accepted as true either. What you can say is that most fighters who have achieved a considerable amount of success in American-Based MMA organizations come from a wrestling background. That would be correct. But you have to be careful how you word it when having conversations colloquially because what you could be saying, could most definitely be false.
And the BEST foundation of Mixed Martial Arts cannot be properly identified because it is, by default a mixture of martial arts. So I cannot say that wrestling is the best foundation, nor can I say that judo is the best foundation or that boxing is the best foundation. All martial arts are nothing more than an extension of the sword. If you learn the concepts of the sword and of budo, through study or from someone teaching you without knowing that you are being taught it, you will have a good foundation for MMA – this does not mean you are going to win but you will have a good foundation. Just understand that there is a barrier of entry into the sport from the traditional martial arts side based upon the incongruent nature of the culture of traditional martial arts and mixed martial arts.
Jack Bratcher: Doc, I never thought about it like that. Man, you have a way of putting things that makes people look at situations and circumstances differently.
Dr. Rhadi Ferguson: Thanks bro. That’s really why I love coaching. It allows me to convey a different message, a different level of experiences if you will to the life of another person. It’s the slight difference in coaching and teaching. As a teacher, I am conveying a thing or an accepted truth. As a coach, I get to challenge your particular truth and allow you to form your own set of ideals and rules. I may already know the answer, but telling it to you and allowing your to figure it out on your own will yield two different levels of memorable adherence. One you will link to an experience, the other, will most likely be heard and forgotten. It’s the process of manipulating one’s tacit knowledge base. Michael Polyani was a great researcher who, I’m sure, some coaches and athletes would like to read. I think what we all have to understand is that, we really do not know that much and as Daniel Kahneman explained in his book “Thinking Fast and Slow” – what you see, is all there is. Meaning, wrestling winning the UFC does not mean anything expect that wrestlers have won and are winning in the UFC. It means nothing more beyond that.
Jack Bratcher: So what did you want to talk about today, you basically answered my questions.
Dr. Rhadi Ferguson: Jack, I just wanted to say congratulations to Jessica Aguilar. This weekend Jessica Aguilar established and achieved something that she has been training for years to attain. She solidified herself as the number one strawweight in the world. Belt be damned. A belt really doesn’t matter, but it’s a great bonus to be recognized with such a piece of adornment. The reason why the belt doesn’t really matter in this case is because there will be other organizations and other belts but the recognition as the best 115 pound women’s fighter in the world is a distinction that is unrivaled. Soon the new UFC Strawweight Champion will be crowned and that person will not be considered the best in the world at 115.
I think that Jessica Aguilar is an outstanding individual and person. She’s lovely to be around and is absolutely beautiful. And when I say beautiful, I mean on the inside and the outside. I’m just very happy for her and glad that she can lay her head down at night and now be exactly who she knew that she was. The best in the world.
Jack Bratcher: Well, Doc thanks again for another Monday morning quarterbacking session. I never know what we’re going to really talk about but I know its going to be interesting. Have a good one.
Dr. Rhadi Ferguson: You too bro.]]>http://prommanow.com/2014/01/20/monday-morning-quarterbacking-with-dr-rhadi-ferguson-january-20th/feed/0Monday Morning Quarterbacking With Dr. Rhadi Ferguson – January 6thhttp://prommanow.com/2014/01/06/monday-morning-quarterbacking-with-dr-rhadi-ferguson-january-6th/
http://prommanow.com/2014/01/06/monday-morning-quarterbacking-with-dr-rhadi-ferguson-january-6th/#commentsMon, 06 Jan 2014 19:19:36 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=123120Happy New Year!
I was able to finally lock down Ronda Rousey’s 2004 Olympic Teammate and fellow Pro MMA Now Staff Writer Dr. Rhadi Ferguson to ask him some questions about Ronda Rousey and here’s what he had to say.
Jack Bratcher: Dr. Ferguson, what is your assessment of Ronda’s last fight with Miesha Tate?
Dr. Ferguson: I think the fight was an entertaining one. I think Ronda did a great job to sell something that wasn’t there. No disrespect to Miesha Tate or anything like that. She was a great champion and added much to the game of Mixed Martial Arts, but her level of wrestling is on par with an 8th grader or middle schooler. Comparing her MMA career or wrestling background with someone as internationally seasoned and tested and Ronda Rousey just is not fair to Miesha, let alone Ronda. And that is by no means an insult. It is a fair assessment. I mean, Miesha’s wrestling pedigree is almost non-existent.
In furtherance, Ronda looked somewhat sloppy in the fight. I mean, she fought with so much passion and disdain for what Miesha could possibly do to her that she fought with reckless abandon. Such a gameplan can only be invoked when you have a total lack of regard for your opponent's ability to beat you. I mean, look, Ronda literally stomped a mud hole in Miesha’s chest twice. If there is something to be learned here it is in the understanding that Women’s MMA has a long way to go in order to reach the competitive levels which exist in Women’s Wrestling, Judo and boxing. The level of athlete is just different and I hope that Miesha now knows this.
I would have liked to see Ronda finish some of the sankaku (triangle choke) positions that she had Miesha caught in during the fight, but I’m pretty sure that she was focusing in on armbarring Miesha just to let her know that she can do whatever she wants to her, tell her what she’s going to do and do it anyway. That’s a level of ownership that I’m sure Ronda wanted to exercise in that particular relationship.
However, as a coach I did not like the fact that Ronda stood up and didn’t apply pressure from the top position. We’ve seen her stay on top when mount but not necessarily apply ground and pound from inside of the guard. However, we had not seen her use her right hand as effectively either and without being in the fight camp I cannot say with any degree of accuracy what the gameplan was, but I can assure you that it was most definitely to improve on her striking from the standing position. Which was evident.
From a professional coaching standpoint, and this is hard for me to say because I know Ronda personally and love her. But from a professional standpoint, she wasn’t really that sharp. Her body looked like she had just cut the weight to make the fight and she looked, honestly, like she filmed two movies, squeezed some training in and knew that -- that was more than enough to beat Miesha. Now, I’m not saying that is what happened. That’s just how it looked. And that’s me being over critical because Ronda didn’t let her foot off the gas not one time during that foot stomping display that she gave Tate.
Jack Bratcher: How do you feel about the McMann/Rousey fight?
I think it is going to be a great fight. I’m glad that Ronda is getting back into the ring quickly. I believe it is good for her and more along the lines of what she’s been used to doing her whole life. If she’s not banged up or chipped up from the fight or the training, I’m sure she’ll fight with such regularity. The competition does not bother her at all and I’ve never seen her scared or shy away from a fight.
This fight is one that will challenge the strategic and tactical capabilities of both fighters and camps. McMann can most certainly win this fight by clinching Ronda against the cage and by taking her down and staying on top and then backing out when she feels endangered or threatened. She can play a takedown game and win. That is a very tiring game and requires two takedowns per round, usually, in order to pull off successfully. Daniel Cormier is an expert at such a strategy and Mo Lawal used it effectively to win the Strikeforce crown. But it is a very tiring game and requires a good knowledge of ground-and-pound tactics.
This is a very good fight and is one of the top fights to ever occur in Mixed Martial Arts history as many fights do not occur where one Olympian fights another. And to just add to that, both are Olympic Medalists. I do believe that this is the first time in UFC history where this will happen.
With that being said, from an Olympic History standpoint I think it's huge. I also think that it will provide much interest in the core grappling skills of judo and wrestling.
Because our sports really could use the exposure and because we are both feeder sports, in a sense to MMA, I hope that the UFC brings in a couple of our Women Olympic Medalists from the sports of Judo, Wrestling, Tae Kwon Do and Boxing and puts them in the arena. And just for kicks it would be nice to see Laila Ali in the front row. Because, lets be honest, it’s always nice to see Laila Ali! I think that would be so awesome and really show the fantastic link and familial bond among the sports. And how all of these sports and persons have brought Women’s MMA to where it is now. Believe it or not, Laila Ali was the first women’s combat sports person to make fighting sexy. Before Ronda and Miesha, there was Laila Ali. But to get back on topic….
This is a huge fight for MMA and for the sports of Judo and Wrestling. I cannot understate this and nor overstate it. And that is how I feel about it.
Jack Bratcher: I guess I need to be more direct Doc? Who do you think will win?
Dr. Ferguson: Oh, Ronda, with reservation. And that reservation exists because I have seen the power in which McMann throws her right hand. I have not seen her really connect with it in a fight, but the speed and power with which she throws it tells me that she has KO potential. I think this fight is difficult to assess due to the ever evolving games of each of these athletes. Watching them is like watching Jon Jones. He’s the champion but he’s still learning MMA and every time you see him, it’s like you are watching a different Jon Jones. This is how it is with these two women. Personally, I’m not sure how much Sara has changed since her last outing but to assume that she hasn’t would be like Miesha assuming that Ronda’s boxing skills were going to be the same as when they met the first time. Big mistake.
However, even with all of the progress that is possible, I really do not see an area in this fight where McMann can dominate Ronda solidly for 25 minutes. And she only has to dominate her for 15 minutes to be honest with you if it goes to the scorecards, but I’m not sure that McMann is going to be able to stop the vicious onslaught and hunt for her arms. Can she take Ronda down? Yes, I’m sure of it, but then what happens? I think her strength, unfortunately places her inside of Ronda’s. But she’s a competitor and tough one at that. And I have been a Sara McMann fan for a long time. I’m a huge Sara McMann fan. But let’s be honest. No one loses in this fight except for Cat Zingano. This fight has rematch written all over it and it hasn’t even begun yet. I kind of feel bad for Cat Zingano because she was supposed to fight Ronda next but got hurt and now is not even in the discussion.
Jack Bratcher: Doc, I know you know both Dan Cormier and Rashad Evans very well and have actually trained and trained with Rashad Evans. Who do you think has the edge in that fight?
Dr. Ferguson: Can we dig into that topic next Monday? Because that is going to be a long discussion and I’m going to need to choose my words very carefully.
Jack Bratcher: Okay, Doc. Next Monday for sure.
Dr. Ferguson: Next Monday it is Brother Jack!]]>http://prommanow.com/2014/01/06/monday-morning-quarterbacking-with-dr-rhadi-ferguson-january-6th/feed/0Did Ben Askren Make The Right Move By Signing With One FC?http://prommanow.com/2013/12/19/did-ben-askren-make-the-right-move-signing-with-onefc/
http://prommanow.com/2013/12/19/did-ben-askren-make-the-right-move-signing-with-onefc/#commentsThu, 19 Dec 2013 17:49:48 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=122531Let's Get This Straight.
Ben Askren Is A World Champion and an Olympian.
Many Mixed Martial Arts organizations have much to offer but.... that Olympian credential, means that Ben Askren was one of the baddest dudes on the planet. And that credential is not up for argument.
Can we argue where he ranks in MMA? Yes.
But, not about him being one of the baddest men on the planet in 2008? Nope! Not at all.
Now since we've gotten that out of the way, let's begin.
Let’s look at a few things.
Ben Askren is a Mixed Martial Arts competitor. He is also a world class competitor from the sport of wrestling. He has traveled the world and has a wider view of the sporting landscape than most. Where most people, see one or two organizations, he sees the world wide opportunity of Mixed Martial Arts, the continued growth of the sport and the best long term and short term options for himself.
And to make the argument that the best in the world fight one organization or the other would be false. There is no standard system for inclusion in any MMA organization and you would need an undisputed champion to make such a distinction.
The error that we make as onlookers and fans is one of comparison. Case in point, when Gilbert Melendez fought Shinya Aoki a few years ago, many looked at that fight as Gilbert Melendez dominating and also as American MMA being superior to the Asian brand of MMA. And while Melendez did in fact win, he did so under a different set of rules. Very different. It’s like taking an undefeated national champion Greco roman wrestler and putting him in a freestyle wrestling competition and then saying that he lost a wrestling match. In furtherance, in Asia Shinya Aoki beat Eddie Alvarez but lost to him in the United States. The amount of time and ability that Shinya Aoki is given to butt scoot in the Asian based organization is different and has an effect on the chronological landscape of the match. There is also a different philosophical view that many take based upon their experience with combat and combat sports. Some people view the refusal of going to the ground as “refusing to fight” while some people view the refusal to stand back up as “refusing to fight.” Both can be viewed as correct but the American and European brands of MMA have a distinct stand up bias based upon our history with boxing while other brands such as the asian brand do allow more work and time on the ground. Such a distinction is neither good nor bad, its just beneficial to acknowledge the presence of such bias.
So, now we revisit our question and then put in within five basic categories.
Did Ben Askren Make The Right Decision By Signing With One FCPersonally:
Ben has a wife and family and the ability for them to travel internationally and watch him fight is a great opportunity for the family. And the opportunity of being a huge international star and then being able to return home to some sense of normalcy is a HUGE benefit.
Financially:
The enormous paydays that you know of but don’t hear of in MMA are real, but they are usually the Pay-per-view deals and only the headliners and main event fighters get an option to negotiate for such monies. The payouts are made such that, the bottom dweller in the organization doesn’t have a real argument to ask for more money and the strength of the brand, of wanting to be a “Cage Fighter” is usually the only compensation that some want or need. I’ve heard many aspiring MMA fighters say that they would fight in the some organizations for free if they could just get the shot. I will never call someone’s dreams silly but fighting for free is…. well…. Silly. Ben Askren has stated that his deal provides him with such pay that meets a level of satisfaction for him and is on par with what he could expect in and from other organizations per his ranking. Also there is a GIGANTIC opportunity for wrestling clinics wrestling camps, and wrestling seminars in Asia. So that marketplace seems like a great opportunity for him financially as well.
Stylistically:
Based upon Ben Askren’s style. The one that has made him an undefeated international Mixed Martial Arts superstar, the Bellator Champion, an Olympian and a World Champion grappler – One FC is the perfect fit. Being in a organization where the fan base has a high level of respect for grappling, is educated about the sport, does not boo, and is concerned with technical proficiency more so that an exciting slugfest is a plus for Ben. If thrust in a certain organization or situation, he could literally be placed in a situation where he takes someone down and then gets stood up because he is categorized as “boring.” The business of the promoters is to make sure fights aren’t boring. The business of competitors is to make sure that they are “effective.” And Ben Askren is not only efficient, he’s also effective. Therefore One FC is the perfect fit for him stylistically.
In closing, in my professional opinion, Ben Askren made the right move.
He's listed as one of the top ranked welterweight fighters in the world now and if he continues to win his ranking and legend will not decrease, it will increase. A small case of futuring provides a future view that Ben Askren has the opportunity to become the next Fedor of our lifetime. Someone who never touches the UFC and gets donned as one of the baddest men on the planet.
Was it a great move? It seems to be a great one on paper, but only time will tell.
-----
To contact Rhadi Ferguson you may follow him on twitter at @rhadi 0r @JudoDoc]]>http://prommanow.com/2013/12/19/did-ben-askren-make-the-right-move-signing-with-onefc/feed/5Leo Frincu: Jiu Jitsu as an Olympic Sport? No Thank Youhttp://prommanow.com/2013/10/22/leo-frincu-jiu-jitsu-as-an-olympic-sport-no-thank-you/
http://prommanow.com/2013/10/22/leo-frincu-jiu-jitsu-as-an-olympic-sport-no-thank-you/#commentsTue, 22 Oct 2013 18:05:38 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=120902[caption id="attachment_117366" align="alignright" width="400"] Coach Leo Frincu with his star pupil UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.[/caption]
Jiu Jitsu can’t be in the Olympics…or at least not the way it is currently set up. As long as Jiu Jitsu has a belt system it can’t be, nor do you want it to be an Olympic sport.
Having a belt system is the same as not allowing a well-rounded boxer to use an uppercut when fighting against a novice boxer; just because someone started the sport before you or learned it faster than you doesn’t mean he/she shouldn’t be allowed to fight against you.
This can’t be done at the Olympic level. If you weigh the same, you should fight in the same weight class, regardless of your belt color. But guess what that would do to the sport of Jiu Jitsu? IBJJF wouldn’t have the thousands of paying competitors attend their worldwide events.
Jiu Jitsu academies would not have white belts, blue belts, or purple belts paying for memberships either. No white or blue belt would want to fight against a brown or black belt; this would kill all the incentive for the novice Jiu Jitsu practitioner to start the sport in the first place.
Look at what happened with the sport of wrestling. If it wasn’t for high school and college wrestling programs, wrestling would be nothing like it is today. You don’t see someone joining wrestling or wanting to be a professional boxer in their twenties or thirties just because he/she wants to get in shape.
In Europe, if not all over the world, wresting has been in decline for over a decade. Fifteen years ago, from hundreds of athletes competing in a national championship in Romania, they are lucky today if they can scramble ten wrestlers per weight class. This will be the fate of Jiu Jitsu if you take away the belt system.
Let’s assume the IOC wasn’t corrupted and they had the common sense to acknowledge the fastest growing sport in the world. Let’s say they accepted Jiu Jitsu at the Olympics with only the black belts competing.
Soon you would see a lot of 18 years olds carrying around black-belts. You would start seeing more and more professors giving away black belts just because they want to increase the chances of their students competing in the Olympics. Slowly, over time, the politics, favoritism and athlete’s ruthless competition would kill the business of Jiu Jitsu.
Jiu Jitsu is a wonderful sport that brings together people of all ages who have the same positive goals in common, regardless of skill level and belt class. By rightfully giving promotions based on skills, accountability, respect and overall lifestyle (and not necessarily due to the number of gold medals), you motivate individuals to strive to improve regardless of age or physical ability.
This is important in order to attract people and, at the same time, to strive as a business. And that’s why you DON’T WANT to make Jiu Jitsu an Olympic sport. Because that would take the fun out of the sport. As one of my coaches used to say, “If you want to kill your passion, turn it into a business.”
Have a good roll.
Leo Frincu came to the United States from Communist Romania with $10, a back pack and four words of English. Now, he’s a businessman, renowned trainer and mentor for UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. Among his many athletic accomplishments, Leo is a six-time Romanian wrestling champion, four-time European champion and was also trainer and coach for the 2003 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team. Leo is the author of a new book, “Choosing Freedom,” which details the steps he took to leave the oppressive Romanian society through wrestling and how his experiences have helped him in the United States – going from a bus boy to successful entrepreneur. You can learn more about Leo Frincu on his website www.LeoFrincu.com. Also, follow Leo on Twitter @leofrincu and “LIKE” his page on Facebook.
[ads1]]]>http://prommanow.com/2013/10/22/leo-frincu-jiu-jitsu-as-an-olympic-sport-no-thank-you/feed/3Wrestling one of three sports placed on short list for 2020 Olympicshttp://prommanow.com/2013/05/29/wrestling-one-of-three-sports-placed-on-short-list-for-2020-olympics/
http://prommanow.com/2013/05/29/wrestling-one-of-three-sports-placed-on-short-list-for-2020-olympics/#commentsWed, 29 May 2013 23:00:38 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=115763[ads1]
[caption id="attachment_115765" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Five of wrestling's biggest ambassadors, all Olympians themselves, made the case to the IOC on why their sport should remain in the Olympic games. From left to right, Lise Legrand - VP French Wrestling Federation, Nenad Lalovic - FILA President, Carol Huynh - 2008 gold and 2012 bronze medalist, Daniel Igali - first Canadian to win gold, Jim Scherr - former head USA Wrestling and USOC. Photo courtesy FILA-official.com[/caption]
Efforts to save Olympic wrestling are paying off. However, the fight is not over. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today following a vote in St. Petersburg, Russia that wrestling was in a group of three sports selected as candidates for the final provisional sport spot in the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.
The other sports on the short list of candidates include squash and baseball/softball.
A final vote will be held by the entire 100-member IOC General Assembly in its meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina in September. Only one of these sports -- wrestling, squash or baseball/softball -- will be included in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.
Sports not selected to advance to the final vote in Buenos Aires include karate, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and wushu.
FILA President Nenad Lalovic commented on this step forward to save Olympic wrestling:

“While our place in the Olympic Games is still not guaranteed, this decision recognizes the great lengths to which we are going to reform our sport and address the IOC’s concerns. At FILA’s recent Extraordinary Congress we enacted a number of rule and governance changes and we hope that our continued efforts will ensure we are successful at the final vote in September. We recognize that there is still a long road ahead but we will continue to work to preserve our place in the Olympic Games.”

[box type="shadow" ]Here is a statement from the International Olympic Committee regarding their decision:
The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today recommended that baseball/softball, squash and wrestling be proposed to the 125th IOC Session for possible inclusion as an additional sport on the Olympic programme for the 2020 Olympic Games.
The EB selected the three sports by secret ballot from a shortlist of eight that also included karate, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and wushu. The vote followed 30-minute presentations by each International Federation and an extensive evaluation by the Olympic Programme Commission to determine their potential added value to the Games.
The full IOC membership will meet for the 125th Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 7 to 10 September and will vote on which of the three sports to add to the programme of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in addition to the 25 core sports – plus golf and rugby sevens* – proposed by the EB in February.
“The Executive Board received excellent presentations today from eight International Federations,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge. “It was never going to be an easy decision but I feel my colleagues on the Board made a good decision in selecting baseball/softball, squash and wrestling to be put forward in Buenos Aires. I wish the three shortlisted sports the best of luck in the run-up to the vote in September and would like to thank the other sports for their hard work and dedication.”
In an effort to ensure the Olympic Games remain relevant to sports fans of all generations, the Olympic Programme Commission systematically reviews every sport following each edition of the Games. The Commission uses 39 criteria in determining a sport’s suitability for the Olympic Games, including youth appeal, universality, popularity, good governance, respect for athletes and respect for the Olympic values.[/box]
The IOC made the announcement that wrestling was in danger of being removed from the Olympic games back in February. The MMA world was aghast at the news as so many fighters come from a wrestling background, and high level wrestlers, including Olympians, often transition very well into MMA. MMA gives wrestlers a viable career opportunity following their collegiate and Olympic careers.
Stay up to date with all things wrestling and the grass roots efforts to Save Olympic Wrestling by following sites such as TheMat.com, KeepWrestlingInTheOlympics.com, FILA-Official.com and Save Olympic Wrestling on Facebook.
[ads2]]]>http://prommanow.com/2013/05/29/wrestling-one-of-three-sports-placed-on-short-list-for-2020-olympics/feed/0XYIENCE Signs UFC Athlete Ronda ‘Rowdy’ Rousey as Brand Ambassadorhttp://prommanow.com/2013/04/23/xyience-signs-ufc-athlete-ronda-rowdy-rousey-as-brand-ambassador/
http://prommanow.com/2013/04/23/xyience-signs-ufc-athlete-ronda-rowdy-rousey-as-brand-ambassador/#commentsTue, 23 Apr 2013 23:34:38 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=113892

The UFC’s first female champion inks a one-year endorsement deal with the official energy drink of the UFC

LAS VEGAS (April 23, 2013)– XYIENCE Xenergy, the official energy drink of the UFC®, has signed a one-year endorsement contract with Ronda Rousey, the UFC women’s bantamweight champion. Rousey, 26, is an Olympic bronze medalist in judo and is the first woman in history to hold and defend a UFC title. Endorsing the superior tasting, sugar-free, zero calorie Xyience Xenergy energy drink and Xenergy + beverage lines, Rousey will appear in advertising, on point-of-purchase materials and on the brand’s website. She will also make appearances at beverage trade and consumer events.
“Ronda’s excellence in athletic performance is only part of what makes her a huge inspiration to athletes and fans,” explains John Lennon, XYIENCE’s president. “She is a fearless agent of change within MMA, whose passion for her sport and dedication to achieving her goals embodies the spirit of our brand’s philosophy: Power to Win. We are proud to be associated with such a talented and articulate athlete.”
Rousey (7-0-0) is a two-time Olympian in judo. She made history in November 2012 when the UFC announced the former Strikeforce bantamweight champion-turned-UFC champion would headline UFC® 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche on February 23, 2013 in Anaheim, Calif. Rousey defended her title, and since then the California native has shot even further to stardom.
Rousey was named Female Fighter of the Year at the World MMA Awards earlier this year. She is the No. 1 pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world, according to leading industry publications and the Unified Women’s MMA Ranking, which is determined monthly by a panel of MMA journalists and is acknowledged as the only official women’s ranking in the sport.
She transcends the sport of MMA, having been featured on the cover of ESPN Magazine’s Body Issue and in Sports Illustrated, Vogue Magazine, Esquire and the New York Times Magazine. Rousey is most often recognized for her stunning looks, outspoken nature and athletic accolades, which include a string of historic firsts.
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Rousey took home a bronze medal for Team USA, becoming the first American to medal in women’s judo since it became an Olympic sport in 1992. In 2006, she won the bronze medal at the Junior World Championships, making her the first U.S. athlete to win two Junior World medals. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, 17-year-old Rousey was the youngest judo competitor at the games.
“The XYIENCE brand has been a huge part of MMA culture for so many years, so it is really exciting for me to be a part of the team,” said Rousey. “I feel it is important to be aligned with people and brands who believe in what I am trying to achieve. Because of its long history in the sport, XYIENCE understands the significance of this moment in time for women in MMA. I’m honored to be a part of the XYIENCE brand.”
According to Lennon, XYIENCE Xenergy has attracted a large number of female consumers – approximately one-third of its consumer base. “According to research that we conducted in early 2012, females’ preferences for Xenergy included its superior flavor and the fact that it is sugar- and calorie-free. Ronda is an excellent spokesperson who will be an integral part of XYIENCE and communicating our brand message to this growing audience.”]]>http://prommanow.com/2013/04/23/xyience-signs-ufc-athlete-ronda-rowdy-rousey-as-brand-ambassador/feed/0Interview: Bjorn Rebney talks judo, Rick Hawn vs. Karo Parisyan, Olympic wrestling *VIDEO*http://prommanow.com/2013/04/02/interview-bjorn-rebney-talks-judo-rick-hawn-vs-karo-parisyan-olympic-wrestling-video/
http://prommanow.com/2013/04/02/interview-bjorn-rebney-talks-judo-rick-hawn-vs-karo-parisyan-olympic-wrestling-video/#commentsTue, 02 Apr 2013 17:16:26 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=112514ProMMAnow.com reporter and 2004 Olympian Dr. Rhadi Ferguson sat down with Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney to discuss a topic close to the good doctor's heart, judo, and the welterweight bout between Karo Parisyan and Rick Hawn set to go down Thursday at Bellator 95 in Atlantic City.
A former top UFC welterweight, Parisyan has had his battles with painkillers and anxiety outside the cage, problems that have cost him his job in the past and which could feasibly cause him to be seen as a liability for a promoter.
Rebney explained why Bellator was willing to take that risk:

"We do a lot of due diligence before we dive into pools. ... We did a lot of checking, we did a lot of talking. We talked to him, we talked to his management. We really wanted to kind of do a deep dive into where he was because he has had well-documented issues. He'll be the first one to talk about them. And we were comfortable enough with where he was that we felt it was a good investment of time, energy and money to put that fight together."

Rebney also discussed the IOC's decision to remove wrestling from the Olympic Games and the impact that could have on MMA. And finally, the Bellator front man shared his excitement about the promotion's transition to Spike TV as their first full season with their new broadcast partner comes to a close this Thursday.
http://youtu.be/-lAF8s5qzHo
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[ads1]]]>http://prommanow.com/2013/04/02/interview-bjorn-rebney-talks-judo-rick-hawn-vs-karo-parisyan-olympic-wrestling-video/feed/2UFC 157 media call with Ronda Rousey, Liz Carmouche, Dan Henderson, Lyoto Machida (full audio)http://prommanow.com/2013/02/12/ufc-157-media-call-with-ronda-rousey-liz-carmouche-dan-henderson-lyoto-machida-full-audio/
http://prommanow.com/2013/02/12/ufc-157-media-call-with-ronda-rousey-liz-carmouche-dan-henderson-lyoto-machida-full-audio/#commentsTue, 12 Feb 2013 21:22:12 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=108717The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) held a media call today to help promote their upcoming UFC 157 card on Feb. 23 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. UFC 157 is a historic event for the UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts in that it will mark the first female fight in the organization's history.
Participating in today's conference call were UFC 157 headliners Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche, and co-headliners Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida. Carmouche will challenge Rousey for her UFC women's bantamweight (135 pounds) title, while Henderson and Machida, the No.2 and No. 3 ranked light heavyweights (205 pounds), will battle it out for title contention.
Topics of discussion included the two Olympians' (Rousey and Henderson) thoughts on wrestling being removed from the Olympics, Rousey's thoughts on Cris Cyborg asking for release from her UFC contract, Henderson's thoughts on the women headlining the card, how the ladies are handling the pressure of being in the main event spotlight in the first-ever women's UFC fight and much much more.
Press play to listen to the complete UFC 157 conference call audio:
http://youtu.be/pC5vLhX8UKw]]>http://prommanow.com/2013/02/12/ufc-157-media-call-with-ronda-rousey-liz-carmouche-dan-henderson-lyoto-machida-full-audio/feed/0Independent MMA Link Clubhttp://prommanow.com/2012/08/14/independent-mma-link-club-5/
http://prommanow.com/2012/08/14/independent-mma-link-club-5/#commentsTue, 14 Aug 2012 20:25:24 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=98464
We've got U.K. MMA news, post-fight analysis of the Henderson-Edgar rematch, why you shouldn't get too excited about the possibility of seeing MMA in the Olympics, interviews with Eduard Folayang and Daron Cruickshank, and a Ronda Rousey impression you won't soon forget, all in this week's Independent MMA Link Club.

]]>http://prommanow.com/2012/08/14/independent-mma-link-club-5/feed/0Will we see Teddy Riner in the UFC?http://prommanow.com/2012/08/03/will-we-see-teddy-riner-in-the-ufc/
http://prommanow.com/2012/08/03/will-we-see-teddy-riner-in-the-ufc/#commentsFri, 03 Aug 2012 20:10:33 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=97696http://prommanow.com/2012/08/03/will-we-see-teddy-riner-in-the-ufc/feed/0Spend an hour with Ronda Rousey right nowhttp://prommanow.com/2012/08/01/spend-an-hour-with-ronda-rousey-right-now/
http://prommanow.com/2012/08/01/spend-an-hour-with-ronda-rousey-right-now/#commentsWed, 01 Aug 2012 19:08:07 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=97583
Are you a Ronda Rousey fan? Are you ga-ga for the golden-haired judoka who likes to rip arms from people's bodies just for fun? If so then sit back, grab a cup of coffee -- well, maybe two cups, because what we have here is nearly a full hour of the Rowdy one. First up, Spencer Lazara sat down with Ronda in the gym for an in-depth discussion about all the recent happenings in her life; training with the Diaz brothers, doing the ESPN cover, calling out Kim Kardashian, her comments about Michael Phelps and more. Ronda also has some words for Sensei Seagal for talking smack about her mentor "Judo" Gene Lebell. Then, once you've watched all that... let Ronda help you catch up on all the latest celebrity (and Olympic) gossip as she hosts TMZ. It's all right here folks, don't you go anywhere.
Ronda Rousey interview - pt 1Ronda Rousey interview - pt 2Ronda Rousey hosts TMZ
]]>http://prommanow.com/2012/08/01/spend-an-hour-with-ronda-rousey-right-now/feed/1‘All Access: Ronda Rousey’ premieres Aug. 8 on Showtimehttp://prommanow.com/2012/07/27/all-access-ronda-rousey-premieres-aug-8-on-showtime/
http://prommanow.com/2012/07/27/all-access-ronda-rousey-premieres-aug-8-on-showtime/#commentsSat, 28 Jul 2012 04:12:48 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=97330http://prommanow.com/2012/07/27/all-access-ronda-rousey-premieres-aug-8-on-showtime/feed/0Paul Daley talks Bellator debut victory and future with the promotion *VIDEO*http://prommanow.com/2012/07/25/paul-daley-talks-bellator-debut-victory-and-future-with-the-promotion-video/
http://prommanow.com/2012/07/25/paul-daley-talks-bellator-debut-victory-and-future-with-the-promotion-video/#commentsThu, 26 Jul 2012 03:08:26 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=97222http://prommanow.com/2012/07/25/paul-daley-talks-bellator-debut-victory-and-future-with-the-promotion-video/feed/2Ronda Rousey slams Michael Phelps, says she isn’t anybody’s groupiehttp://prommanow.com/2012/07/23/ronda-rousey-slams-michael-phelps-says-she-isnt-anybodys-groupie/
http://prommanow.com/2012/07/23/ronda-rousey-slams-michael-phelps-says-she-isnt-anybodys-groupie/#commentsMon, 23 Jul 2012 20:22:59 +0000http://prommanow.com/?p=97094Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey isn't one to hold her tongue, and that's especially been the case over the past couple of weeks. The 2008 Olympic Bronze medalist in judo has has openly talked about her dislike of Kim Kardashian and why she would want to fight her recently.
However, in a interview with Elie Seckbach, Rousey turned her attention to record breaking Olympian Michael Phelps who rubbed Rousey the wrong way with his 'snobbish' attitude at a gathering for American Olympians in 2008. Rousey spoke on the encounter:

"Michael Phelps kind of annoyed me a little bit. We had this club thing for the US team and all the Olympians are hanging out together, all the NBA players are hanging out, and Michael Phelps needed his own private section of the club..."
"All these NBA players are a bigger deal than this guy and they're hanging out with the rest of us. We're like, 'Hello, we're your teammates! We're not a bunch of groupies! Come hang out with us! Who are you?...'"
"Michael Phelps had to be kept separate in a different backstage area so he wouldn't be harassed by the other Olympians"
"I don't like being somebody's teammate and being treated like I'm their groupie. I didn't even want to go out of my way to go and say hi to that guy. Just get over yourself"
"All you do is swim. If somebody slapped you every single time you jumped in the pool, then I'd have a little bit more respect. But I was a swimmer before, so you can't tell me that swimming is 'oh my god' because it's not."

That's the great thing about Rousey in that she always speaks her mind and it certainly has gotten her lots of attention early in her career. However, she's able to back up the brashness with a record of (5-0) with all five wins coming via first round submissions.
What's even more impressive is that all of her wins have come via one move, the armbar.]]>http://prommanow.com/2012/07/23/ronda-rousey-slams-michael-phelps-says-she-isnt-anybodys-groupie/feed/5